The identity of a mysterious company that purchased roughly 52,000 acres in California’s Solano County – including 20 parcels around the Travis Air Force Base – has been revealed.
According to the New York Times, a limited liability company calling itself Flannery Associates was responsible for the purchase, although details on the company’s ownership and goals were initially unknown. It has since been revealed that the company is backed by a group of Silicon Valley executives who plan to use the combined parcels to build a new city that would feature tens of thousands of new homes.
The Flannery initiative was created by Jan Sramek, a former Goldman Sachs trader, and his backers include the venture capitalists Michael Moritz, Marc Andreessen and Chris Dixon, along with LinkedIn co-founder Reid Hoffman, Stripe co-founders Patrick and John Collison, Emerson Collective founder Laurene Powell Jobs, and entrepreneurs turned investors Nat Friedman and Daniel Gross.
Specific details on the city have not been disclosed, although the endeavor has been in the works for at least six years. However, the investors believe their money is being well spent – Moritz reportedly informed a potential backer that if “the plans materialize anywhere close to what is being contemplated, this should be a spectacular investment.”
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The last areas for potential wildlife habitats and corridors is being cut off by mega-investors who seek massive developments in over-populated California.
California has 4x the population that it had in the early 1950’s.
I do not know anyone who is past age 40 who thinks California is a nicer place due to all the population growth, massive development, loss of open spaces, traffic congestion, and fewer local parks, and over-crowded parks that are often far from urban centers.
Housing costs (and other costs) are far higher due to so many people living in a state that once had a lot of open spaces and high biodiversity.
In a state that has recurring droughts, few know the history that California once boasted massive wetlands and riparian zones throughout the state. But since 1850, our state has lost over 90% of its wetlands to water diversion projects (often for farming) and to allow for developments on former wetlands.
Most roads removed creeks and rivers, which used to be the arteries of life for wildlife and were also natural fire breaks.
I am furious that California and the nation continues to promote never ending population growth, which is the mantra of the Cancer cell. The recent news that California’s population may be stabilizing at about 40 million is some good news for those of us who understand the need to restore wildlife habitats and wetlands.
Loss of wetlands is precisely why California has depleted groundwater tables!
Lost of riparian zones and wetlands is why California’s fishing industry (and wildlife) are suffering from a dirth of wetlands habitats!
I hope this proposed mega-city does not happen. Northern California often prides itself on NOT being like over-developed SoCal, but it’s coming your way if this mega-city is allowed to happen.
Agreed. Sad
Agree, Julie! It’s absurd!
Amen!
Yes!!
If this mega city is doomed to happen, can we please consider the nature to be part of it?
As long as the buyer or buyers are not from China, Russia, Iran or any other foreign country it is OK. I have been told that China is buying a lot of land around our military bases.
it seems you have issues that everybody is equal in the USA.
I hope this is not a sleight of hand to have bought the land with the hidden goal to eventually sell to foreign investors for profit? Was this land allowed to be purchased because it was a U.S. LLC, and now it can be sold to foreign investors with no dispute?
They are the biggest Hypocrites!!! They are the Screaming the loudest regarding Climate change !!! Follow the $$$$$$$$$